In the past I’ve had the cliche New Year’s resolutions: lose weight, exercise more, stop biting my fingernails, etc. However, this year my resolutions will be a bit different. I depart for a year-long journey to Australia and hopefully parts of Asia on January 25, 2010. During the trip I will work on developing a career as a freelance travel writer, while also working abroad under a 462-visa and learning about Australian culture.

I don’t believe in the whole idea of “finding yourself,” especially abroad. You don’t need to find yourself, you’re already there, and if you’re going to find yourself, it’s probably going to be at home. But I will say immersing yourself in another culture and putting yourself under the pressures of travel will help you discover things about yourself. The constant change also creates a great environment to change or work on bettering parts of yourself.

For that reason, my New Year’s resolutions this year may be a bit more specific, but mainly travel and career oriented. While some may not be able to relate to my background or upcoming journey, I hope everyone can relate to my resolutions focus on opening up and also accepting more.

Write everyday: This website it to do just that. I write for a living, but that doesn’t mean I don’t wake up some mornings and dread a blank computer screen. Unfortunately, the more days you take off from your craft, the harder it is to get back into it and better it.

Start more conversations: Everyday, we pass by or wait with so many people, but don’t bother to talk with them or strike a conversation. I think this is something everyone can practice no matter where they are, but I really want to try even harder since I am going to be traveling to a new country alone.

Take more risks: I’ve skydived, jumped off bridges and more, but I still dread writing cover letters or applying for freelance positions. One main focus of this trip is to start a career as a travel journalist and photographer, so I need to shed that fear. Like any dream, you have to work to make it happen. The older you get, the harder it is to take chances, due to changes in health, family and finances. I am fortunate enough to have this opportunity and I plan to make the most of it.

Be sporadic: Last time I traveled abroad, I planned almost everything. It was my first time traveling on my own, so I was nervous. But I met so many people who planned very little. While things didn’t always go right, it gave them this freedom to go wherever life took them. They took journeys with new friends, even stopped in a country for a few weeks to just take it in. When you have as much time on the road as I do, I think it’s important to allow chance to play a roll in what you do or where you go, rather than relying solely on your planner.

Be more accepting of others: I think everyone gets annoyed when things don’t go their way. In those situations people can either close off out of frustration or just accept what has happened and work with it. When you close off, you just get bitter. But if you try to just accept things, you may find things work out better than you planned. I think this is especially important when in another country, because you’re a visitor and things are not going to always be what you are accustomed to.

I woke up this morning to see Australia’s New Year’s celebration through my computer and I’ll go to bed tonight after experiencing America’s New Year’s in person. Next year, it will be the opposite. Happy New Year, wherever you are celebrating from.